Attracting Top Talent to Your Start-Up: Strategies Unrelated to Salary

If you’re a small company or a rising start-up, you need to attract top talent without breaking the bank.

Check out these recruitment strategies to make yourself attractive to prized candidates — that have nothing to do with salary.

Give Employees a Stake in the Company

Sure, there’s the glitz and glam of stories like how a former Google masseuse went on to become a millionaire by cashing in her stock options. But even outside of these spectacular scenarios, giving employees shares in the company is a wonderful gift that’s twofold. One, it lets the employee know that you want them to be a part of your company’s family, and that you’re willing to invest in them to make this happen. Two, it provides them an incentive to make sure your company succeeds, since as it continues to climb, so do their shares.

Offer a Competitive Benefits Package

According to a 2012 article from Entrepreneur, 90% of employees in a survey said that health insurance was the most important benefit. No wonder — it’s expensive! Yet with many health plans to choose from on the market, finding one that fits your company’s size and needs is less daunting than it seems.

Flexible schedules are also in high demand, and this is great news. While they don’t have to cost you a cent, they help employees achieve a much better work-life balance while showing that you trust them to be adults.

Show That You Want Them

Something that is easily overlooked by employers — but is nonetheless incredibly important — is making sure you treat your recruits with respect. Things like sending personalized invites and small gifts to highly qualified recruits can be enough to win employees over. Getting paid is important, but knowing that you truly value them and what they bring to the table is a reward that money can’t buy.

Inspire Them With Your Company Culture

It’s important for people to enjoy the work they do, and a tremendous part of that comes with what the office environment is like each day. If your company has a great personality, show it off. Make sure your “Careers” page separates you from the crowd by putting up videos, blog posts, and showing off your unique character. Demonstrate to your dream candidates why this is a place that they want to work.

Wow Them With the Company Vision

You know where you’re going and what you need to do to get there. You have grand aspirations for your company. Share them with your future employees. Make sure your mission page is updated with the relevant content describing what you aim to accomplish and the philosophy behind what you do. Give your recruits access to the personal touches that will inspire them to adopt your vision and invest in helping to make it a reality.

A survey by Cap Strat found that 72% of millennials, the largest generation in the U.S., are willing to forgo a higher salary for a more fulfilling career. What this says about today’s workforce is clear.

With the right combination of benefits and organizational philosophies in place, smaller companies have everything they need to recruit the employees they want without being forced to break the bank.